The future is now. Technologist and inventor Amir Husain explains how we can live amidst the coming age of sentient machines and artificial intelligence—and not only survive, but thrive. Artificial “machine” intelligence is playing an ever-greater role in our society. We are already using cruise control in our cars, automatic checkouts at the supermarket, and we are unable to live without our smartphones. The discussion around AI is polarized; people think either machines will solve all problems for everyone, or they will lead us down a dark, dystopian path into total human irrelevance. Regardless of what you believe, the idea that we might bring forth intelligent creation can be intrinsically frightening. But what if our greatest role as humans so far is that of creators? Husain argues that we are on the cusp of writing our next, and greatest, creation myth. It is the dawn of a new form of intellectual diversity, one that we need to embrace in order to advance the state of the art in many critical fields, including security, resource management, finance, and energy.    He addresses broad existential questions surrounding the coming of AI: Why are we valuable? What can we create in this world? How are we intelligent? What constitutes progress for us? And how might we fail to progress? Translating complex computer science and AI concepts into clear, plainspoken language, Husain draws from a wide variety of cultural and historical references to illustrate his points.   “In The Sentient Machine, Amir Husain prepares us for a brighter future; not with hyperbole about right and wrong, but with serious arguments about risk and potential.” - Dr. Greg Hyslop, Boeing “Here is the book to read on AI and its implications. ‎Husain takes us through many important ideas that will shape our future, makes the complex simple and does so in clear, highly accessible prose.  Do yourself a favor: buy this book and move into the future.” - John Thornton, The Brookings Institution.